Homebuilding & Renovating

HEATING YOUR HOME

● Underfloor heating ● Woodburning stoves ● Renewables

FROM THE EDITOR

Welcome to a very special issue of the magazine as we reveal the overall winners of the 2025 Homebuilding & Renovating Awards, in partnership with The Times and The Sunday Times. This is the third time I’ve had the pleasure of judging these awards and...

FROM THE EDITOR

When tackling a major home renovation or self-build project it can be all too easy to fall into the common trap of planning the space to suit your immediate needs rather than thinking ahead to five or 10 years (or even further) in the future. That...

FROM THE EDITOR

The first house I ever bought was a lovely Victorian terrace in London. My husband and I fell in love with it as soon as we walked in. High ceilings, original fireplaces, built-in Victorian dressers and an abundance of natural light were just a few of...

FROM THE EDITOR

Pinning down your key priorities for your new home is essential when you’re starting out on your self-build or renovation journey. As I know only too well, unless you have bottomless pockets chances are you will have to make some compromises to your...

FROM THE EDITOR

Making significant changes to your home is a big commitment, both in terms of your time and, perhaps more importantly, your money. Finding ways to make your project more e cient and cost-e ective is essential if you’re trying to make your budget go...

EXPERT ADVICE

Guide to planning permission costs Designing an outdoor k itchen Sensory garden ideas Are heat pumps right for you?

10 STEPS TO DESIGNING THE PERFECT GARDEN

Healthy homes

Improve your wellbeing and lower yourbills

FROM THE EDITOR

The project that successfully captured the imagination of our readers last year in the Homebuilding & Renovating Awards 2024 was the story of one family’s longheld dream to convert a reservoir building in the Herefordshire countryside into a family...

Guide to garage conversions

FROM THE EDITOR

With suitable building plots increasingly hard to come by, self-builders up and down the country are looking for alternative ways to create their dream home. Hayley and Stephan did just that when they bought a derelict 1960s bungalow with the view to...

EXPERT ADVICE

The lowdown on green roofs Clever ideas for hallways Guide to central heating costs Insider tips for planning success

13 steps to creating a healthier home

FROM THE EDITOR

Many of us may harbour a longheld dream of building our own home, but when embarking on that journey, some often falter at the first step. A lack of viable plots can prove to be an initial stumbling block, while nervousness about the self-build process...

FROM THE EDITOR

During many of my scrolls through social media in recent months, I’ve noticed a growing appreciation for slow renovating. Rather than people trying to race through a whole house renovation as quickly as possible, increasing numbers of homeowners seem...

HEART OF OAK

Situated in the Hertfordshire countryside, this new build is a stunnnindg piece of architecture that marries both traditional timber with contemporary architecture, allowing the light to flood in

FROM THE EDITOR

Starting your journey to building your own home can be as daunting as it is exciting — it’s likely to be one of the biggest (and, at times, most challenging) commitments you’ll take on in your life. But providing you know how to navigate those...

External wall insulation costs